Rotational Drive Detail Patents (Class 360/99.08)
  • Publication number: 20120134047
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension, a head, and a conductor trace on the suspension, including one end portion electrically connected to the head and the other end portion includes a terminal area. The conductor trace includes a thin metal plate, a base insulating layer on the thin metal plate, a trace pattern on the base insulating layer, including a plurality of conductors and a plurality of first and second connection terminals continuous with the conductors, and a cover insulating layer on the base insulating layer, configured to cover the trace pattern. The terminal area includes an opening including two opposite side edges, the first connection terminals extend into the opening from one of the side edges thereof, and the second connection terminals extend into the opening from the other side edge thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takafumi KIKUCHI, Yasutaka SASAKI
  • Patent number: 8189288
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a rotor hub for use in a spindle motor, free-cutting stainless steel is used as a material of the rotor hub. A slug of free-cutting stainless steel is subjected to a plastic working to form a disk mounting portion and a cylindrical surface positioned radially inwardly of the disk mounting portion. Then, a cylindrical disk fitting surface is formed by machining substantially the entirety of the cylindrical surface. The rotor hub contains A-type inclusions appearing in a cross section taken along a center axis of the disk mounting portion. The A-type inclusions are oriented in directions different than the center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignees: Nidec Corporation, Tokusen Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Miyauchi, Yasuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8189291
    Abstract: Approaches for a fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system for use within a hard-disk drive. A fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system may comprise an upper conical bearing and a lower conical bearing that are both disposed along a stationary shaft on which a magnetic-recording disk is rotatably mounted. The upper conical bearing and the lower conical bearing may have different cone angles, diameters, and/or lubricants to produce a desired difference in stiffness between the first conical bearing and the second conical bearing. By adjusting characteristics of the fluid dynamic bearing (FDB) system to achieve the desired bearing stiffness ratio, the tendency for the magnetic-recording disks to experience a sustained vibration when the hard-disk drive receives a mechanical shock is reduced. By preventing the magnetic-recording disks from sustained vibration after a mechanical shock, data may be written to and read from the magnetic-recording disks with greater reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Chiaoping Ku, Fu-Ying Huang, Lidu Huang, Hitoshi Shindo
  • Patent number: 8189290
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a shaft arranged concentric with as a central axis and extending in a vertical direction, a rotor unit arranged to rotate about the central axis, a stator including a base member and a magnetic member fixed to the base member and axially opposed to the magnet. The magnetic member includes an opposing portion axially opposed to the magnet so that a magnetic attracting force is generated between the opposing portion and the magnet and a protrusion portion protruding downwards from the opposing portion. The base member includes a recess portion, and the protrusion portion of the magnetic member is fixed within the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Sakata, Yuya Saito, Takehito Tamaoka
  • Publication number: 20120113546
    Abstract: A motor unit for use in a disk drive apparatus includes a motor portion, a housing member including a through hole defined therein, and a circuit board. The motor portion includes a rotating portion, a base portion, and a stator fixed to the base portion. The circuit board is arranged to extend from an outside of the motor portion to an inside of the stator through a gap defined between the stator and the base portion. The circuit board includes a connection portion arranged radially inward of the stator. A plurality of lead wires of the stator is connected to the connection portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Takatoki Sugi, Tomohiro Yoneda, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8174788
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a hard disk drive is described. The method includes providing a motor assembly, the motor assembly comprising a stationary portion and a rotatable portion for rotating a magnetic disk with respect to said stationary portion and providing a base for receiving the motor assembly. The method further includes providing an adhesive for mounting the motor assembly to said base wherein the adhesive is electrically conductive and mounting the stationary portion of the motor assembly to the base utilizing the adhesive such that the adhesive provides a low resistance path between the base and the motor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: John Contreras, Klaas B. Klaassen
  • Patent number: 8169738
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism includes a stationary bearing portion including a sleeve portion, and a rotating bearing portion including an outer rotating portion. A lubricating oil is arranged between the stationary and rotating bearing portions. A first dynamic pressure groove array is arranged in an upper surface of the sleeve portion or a lower surface of the outer rotating portion. A second dynamic pressure groove array is arranged in a surface of the outer rotating portion or a surface of the stationary bearing portion in a region between the first array and a liquid surface. An end of the second array closer to the liquid surface is arranged radially inward of an opposite end of the second array. An upper end opening of a communicating channel defined in the sleeve portion is arranged radially outward of a radially inner end of the first array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yawata, Yoichi Sekii, Junya Mizukami, Tetsuya Maruyama, Hirofumi Kojima
  • Patent number: 8164850
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing device includes a sleeve having a bearing hole into which a shaft is inserted, the sleeve rotatably supporting the shaft to make relative rotation about a center axis and a bearing housing made of a cold-rolled steel plate or a galvanized steel plate, the sleeve being received within the bearing housing. The bearing housing is filled with lubricating oil mainly composed of ester. A radial dynamic pressure bearing portion is provided between an outer circumferential surface of the shaft and an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve, the radial dynamic pressure bearing portion having radial dynamic pressure grooves for holding the lubricating oil as working fluid and for inducing a fluid dynamic pressure in the lubricating oil during the relative rotation. At least a surface region of the bearing housing remaining in contact with the lubricating oil is coated with a layer mainly composed of nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Gomyo, Hisaya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8164851
    Abstract: A base unit for use in a storage disk drive apparatus includes a base portion; a stator core including a plurality of teeth; U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase coils; U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires; and a circuit board. The U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase coils are wound on the teeth and arranged to define a U phase, a V phase, and a W phase, respectively. The U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires are arranged to define the U phase, the V phase, and the W phase, respectively. Each of the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires is arranged to pass through a separate one of through holes to be drawn out beyond a lower surface of the base portion and electrically connected to the circuit board. Each of the through holes is sealed with a sealant such that the base unit is airtight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yoneda, Takatoki Sugi, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120092792
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary portion, a bearing mechanism, and a rotating portion. The bearing mechanism is attached to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a base portion, a stator, and a wiring. The base portion is arranged to define a portion of a housing of the disk drive apparatus, the housing defining an airtight interior space. The base portion includes a recessed portion defined on a side thereof where the interior space is defined. The recessed portion includes an inner side surface including an adhesion region and a press-fit region. A lower portion of the bearing mechanism is fixed to the adhesion region through an adhesive, and press fitted to the press-fit region. An axial dimension of the adhesion region is arranged to be greater than that of the press-fit region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takatoki Sugi, Tomohiro Yoneda, Hiroshi Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120092788
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism includes a stationary bearing portion including a sleeve portion, and a rotating bearing portion including an outer rotating portion. A lubricating oil is arranged between the stationary and rotating bearing portions. A first dynamic pressure groove array is arranged in an upper surface of the sleeve portion or a lower surface of the outer rotating portion. A second dynamic pressure groove array is arranged in a surface of the outer rotating portion or a surface of the stationary bearing portion in a region between the first array and a liquid surface. An end of the second array closer to the liquid surface is arranged radially inward of an opposite end of the second array. An upper end opening of a communicating channel defined in the sleeve portion is arranged radially outward of a radially inner end of the first array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi YAWATA, Yoichi SEKII, Junya MIZUKAMI, Tetsuya MARUYAMA, Hirofumi KOJIMA
  • Publication number: 20120092787
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetic core including a main pole, and a return pole opposed to the main pole with a magnetic gap therebetween, and configured to return magnetic flux from the main pole and form a magnetic circuit in conjunction with the main pole, a coil configured to excite magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit, and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer formed by disposing only a nonmagnetic material in the magnetic gap between the return pole and an end portion of the main pole on the recording medium side, and configured to electrically connect the main pole and the return pole. The main pole, the nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer, and the return pole are configured to constitute a series electrical circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Gaku KOIZUMI
  • Publication number: 20120087039
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, and a magnetic recording layer formed on the substrate. The magnetic recording layer includes recording portions having patterns regularly arranged in an longitudinal direction and containing cobalt and platinum, and non recording portions formed between the recording portions and containing boron and at least one light rare earth metal selected from the group consisting of yttrium, lanthanum, and cerium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwasaki, Kaori Kimura, Yoshiyuki Kamata, Tsuyoshi Onitsuka, Masatoshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20120075746
    Abstract: A base unit for use in a storage disk drive apparatus includes a base portion; a stator core including a plurality of teeth; U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase coils; U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires; and a circuit board. The U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase coils are wound on the teeth and arranged to define a U phase, a V phase, and a W phase, respectively. The U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires are arranged to define the U phase, the V phase, and the W phase, respectively. Each of the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase common wires is arranged to pass through a separate one of through holes to be drawn out beyond a lower surface of the base portion and electrically connected to the circuit board. Each of the through holes is sealed with a sealant such that the base unit is airtight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro YONEDA, Takatoki SUGI, Hiroshi KOBAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8144423
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic pressure bearing device includes a shaft, an annular member, and a rotating member. The annular member is fixed to or seamlessly defined with the shaft and is radially opposed to the rotating member. The annular member and the rotating member are covered with a seal member. A first gap is defined between the seal member and the annular member. A second gap is defined between the rotating member and the seal member. A third gap is defined between the annular member and the rotating member. The first gap preferably has a width smaller than that of the second gap but greater than that of the third gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Sekii, Hironao Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20120069467
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic disk drive using the same, capable of keeping flying height and posture of the head slider constant when a discrete track medium (magnetic recording medium) includes tracks as data zones, and non-data zones (groove) formed between adjacent tracks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventor: Jianhua LI
  • Publication number: 20120069468
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium which is configured such that a ferromagnetic recording part is formed on a substrate in a desired track pattern or a desired bit pattern, a ferromagnetic film is formed on the substrate, and then a mask is formed on the ferromagnetic film, the mask having an opening above a region for isolating the ferromagnetic film between tracks or bits. Subsequently, a B-based gas is radiated on the region of the ferromagnetic film through the opening of the mask, thereby increasing a B content of the region to nonmagnetize the region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki KAMATA, Kaori Kimura, Takeshi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 8139316
    Abstract: A disk drive device is configured such that a wall of a base plate is provided with a through hole that guides a lead from a drive unit outside. The through hole is covered by a sealing sheet having an insertion hole. The lead is guided from inside the housing via the insertion hole of the sealing sheet. The sealing sheet carries a curable resin. The curable resin, temporarily softened during a curing process, flows into a space between the base plate and the through hole and a space between the insertion hole and the lead. The curable resin is cured in this state, ensuring the airtightness of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Alphana Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Tashiro, Yoji Furui
  • Publication number: 20120063030
    Abstract: In a fluid dynamic bearing apparatus, an oil buffer is defined between a thrust gap and a pumping gap. The oil buffer has an axial dimension greater than that of the thrust gap, and/or has a radial dimension greater than that of the pumping gap. An air bubble generated in the thrust gap due to cavitation, for example, when a fluid dynamic bearing apparatus experiences a vibration can be dissolved in lubricating oil provided within the oil buffer. This prevents leakage of the lubricating oil due to the air bubble residing in the fluid dynamic bearing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki YAMADA, Junya MIZUKAMI, Tsuyosi MORITA, Tetsuya MARUYAMA, Takuro IGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20120063029
    Abstract: Inner circumferential surfaces of a rotor holder and a turntable are in contact with an outer circumferential surface of a shaft. This stabilizes coaxiality of both the rotor holder and the turntable with respect to the shaft. An upper cover portion of the rotor holder includes fixing holes. The turntable includes fixing projections arranged to extend through the fixing holes to be in contact with a lower surface of the upper cover portion. A base end portion of each fixing projection is arranged at a level higher than that of an upper end portion of a corresponding one of the fixing holes. Therefore, even if dimensional errors of the rotor holder and the turntable cause a radial displacement between any fixing projection and a corresponding one of the fixing holes, the rotor holder and the turntable can be fixed to each other while maintaining coaxiality therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mitsuhito Nishio, Takuya Yamane, Hisakazu Motomochi
  • Publication number: 20120050912
    Abstract: There are provided a hydrodynamic bearing assembly capable of implementing a flat-type oil cover, while reducing a thickness of the oil cover, by strengthening the rigidity of the oil cover, a motor having the hydrodynamic bearing assembly, and a recording disk driving device equipped with the motor. The hydrodynamic bearing assembly includes: a sleeve having a shaft hollow provided at one side thereof, the shat hollow being inserted with a shaft; and an oil cover fixed to the sleeve in another direction of the shaft hollow and preventing a leakage of oil remaining in the shaft hollow, wherein a groove for securing rigidity is formed on at least one surface of the oil cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ta Kyoung Lee
  • Publication number: 20120050911
    Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a 2.5 inch 7 mm high disk drive apparatus includes a base portion; a stator arranged above the base portion; a rotor hub including a cover portion positioned above the stator, and a side wall portion arranged to extend downward from an outer edge of the cover portion; a rotor magnet positioned radially outward of the stator, and fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the side wall portion of the rotor hub; and a bearing mechanism arranged to support the rotor hub and the rotor magnet such that the rotor hub and the rotor magnet are rotatable with respect to the base portion and the stator. A height of the rotor magnet as measured in an axial direction is preferably in a range of about 2 mm to about 3 mm (both inclusive), and a height of a stator core of the stator as measured in the axial direction is preferably in a range of about 50% to about 75% (both inclusive) of the height of the rotor magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takehito TAMAOKA, Hiroyuki ABE
  • Patent number: 8120872
    Abstract: A stator portion of a spindle motor includes a substantially cup-shaped base member including a bottom portion expanding in a radial direction, and a wall portion extending upwards from an outer edge portion of the bottom portion. A circuit board is fixed to a lower surface of the base member in a position on the outer side in the radial direction and on the upper side than the bottom portion. Accordingly, the thickness of the spindle motor in the axial direction can be reduced. The base member has a through hole formed axially through the bottom portion. An opening edge portion of the base member is covered with the insulating layer. A conducting wire from a coil is drawn through the through hole, led out along the surface of the insulating layer, and connected to the circuit board positioned on the outer side in the radial direction than the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Sekii, Atsushi Yawata
  • Patent number: 8120873
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a rotary unit, a bearing mechanism, a stator, a base member, and a connector connected to a leader line extending from the stator through a communication hole of the base member. The connector includes a pedestal and a metal pin. The leader line is connected to a first pin terminal of the metal pin on a hole-positioning lower surface of a hole-defining portion of the pedestal. An upper surface of the metal pin is separated from the pedestal at a specified separation position between the first pin terminal and a second pin terminal. A connection position of the first pin terminal and the leader line on the hole-positioning lower surface is covered with an adhesive agent. The periphery of a gap between the metal pin and the pedestal over an extent from the first pin terminal to the separation position is sealed by the adhesive agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoki Uchibori, Taishi Sakaguchi, Yujiro Kato, Takuro Iguchi, Tadashi Hasegawa, Taku Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8116030
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for mounting an object to a base. In one example, the apparatus includes a base and a protuberant feature extending from the base. The protuberant feature includes a datum surface sized to matingly engage a corresponding surface of an object to precisely position the object with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Scott Haynes, Freeman Hendrickson Fisher
  • Publication number: 20120033328
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary portion preferably includes a shaft portion, an upper thrust portion, and an outer tubular portion. The rotating portion preferably includes an inner tubular portion, a flange portion, an upper hub annular portion, and a lower hub annular portion. The flange portion includes a communicating hole. An upper surface of a lubricating oil is located in a fifth gap defined between an upper thrust portion and an upper hub annular portion, while a lower surface of the lubricating oil is located in a sixth gap defined between an outer tubular portion and a lower hub annular portion. The communicating hole and a space extending from the fifth gap to the sixth gap through a fourth gap, a first gap, a second gap, and a third gap are continuously filled with the lubricating oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya MIZUKAMI, Takayuki OE, Yoichi SEKII, Naoki SABASHI, Hideki NISHIMURA, Takehito TAMAOKA, Takashi YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20120033325
    Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing is defined in a first gap between a shaft portion and a sleeve portion. An upper seal portion extending upward and a lower seal portion extending downward are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing. Each of the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion includes a surface including a lubricating oil located therein. The upper seal portion and the lower seal portion are arranged in communication with each other through a communicating hole defined in the sleeve portion. The communicating hole and a space ranging from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap are filled with the lubricating oil. The axial distance between the surfaces of the lubricating oil in the upper seal portion and the lower seal portion is arranged to be shorter than the axial distance between an upper end and a lower end of the dynamic pressure bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya MIZUKAMI, Takayuki OE, Yoichi SEKII, Naoki SABASHI, Hideki NISHIMURA, Takehito TAMAOKA, Takashi YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20120033327
    Abstract: A motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes a communicating hole. A dynamic pressure bearing is defined in a first gap between a shaft portion and the sleeve portion. An upper seal portion and a lower seal portion are arranged radially outward of the dynamic pressure bearing. The upper seal portion and the lower seal portion are arranged in communication with each other through the communicating hole. The communicating hole and a space extending from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap are filled with a lubricating oil. A fixing region where an outer tubular portion and a base portion are fixed to each other is arranged to overlap with the dynamic pressure bearing in a radial direction in plan view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya MIZUKAMI, Takayuki OE, Yoichi SEKII, Naoki SABASHI, Hideki NISHIMURA, Takehito TAMAOKA, Takashi YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20120033330
    Abstract: In a motor, a stationary portion includes a shaft portion and an upper thrust portion arranged to define a single continuous monolithic member together with the shaft portion, and arranged to extend radially outward from an upper portion of the shaft portion. The shaft portion includes a female screw portion recessed axially downward from an upper end thereof. An upper end of the single continuous monolithic member defined by the shaft portion and the upper thrust portion includes an upper end annular surface arranged to extend radially outward from the female screw portion perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to the central axis. An outside diameter of the upper end annular surface is greater than a diameter of an outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya MIZUKAMI, Takayuki OE, Yoichi SEKII, Naoki SABASHI, Takehito TAMAOKA, Takashi YAMAMOTO, Kazunori USUI, Akira MUKAI
  • Publication number: 20120033329
    Abstract: In a motor, an annular radially extending gap is defined between an outer annular surface and a lower surface of an annular cover portion. The radially extending gap has an axial width smaller than a maximum width of an upper seal portion defined between an outer circumferential surface of an upper thrust portion and an inner circumferential surface of a tubular portion. An annular axially extending gap is defined between an inner cylindrical surface and a radially inner edge of the annular cover portion. The axially extending gap has a radial width smaller than the maximum width of the upper seal portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya MIZUKAMI, Takayuki OE, Yoichi SEKII, Naoki SABASHI, Takehito TAMAOKA, Takashi YAMAMOTO, Shigeki HORIKI, Kazushi MIURA, Mitsuhiro TAKEMOTO
  • Publication number: 20120033324
    Abstract: A rotating body for a fluid dynamic bearing used for rotating a recording disk that has been mounted therein include: a rotating shaft portion in which a cylindrical portion that serves as a rotating shaft and a protruding portion extended radially outward from one end of the cylindrical portion are formed integrally with each other; and a hub that is to be connected to the end portion near to the outer circumference of the protruding portion and that has a mounting seat portion on which the recording disk is to be mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: ALPHANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira MURAMATSU, Takuji YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20120033326
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary portion preferably includes a shaft portion, a lower plate portion, and an outer tubular portion. The rotating portion preferably includes an inner tubular portion and a flange portion including a communicating hole. An upper seal portion is arranged radially outward of a first gap, and a lower seal portion is arranged radially outward of a second gap. The upper and lower seal portions are arranged in communication with each other through the communicating hole. The communicating hole and a space extending from the upper seal portion to the lower seal portion through the first gap, the second gap, and a third gap are filled with a lubricating oil. The third gap includes a dynamic pressure generation portion arranged to produce a radially inward pressure acting on the lubricating oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Junya MIZUKAMI, Takayuki OE, Yoichi SEKII, Naoki SABASHI, Hideki NISHIMURA, Takehito TAMAOKA, Takashi YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8106555
    Abstract: An apparatus for inhibiting oil leakage is disclosed by which the oil leakage can be effectively inhibited with a simple structure, where the apparatus is extensively formed along an outer periphery of a rotation shaft at a position higher than at least an upper end of a bearing and is formed with an oil barrier that restrains oil rise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 8107190
    Abstract: Provided is a fluid bearing device with a hub part having high molding precision and dimensional stability and capable of being produced at low cost. An annular gate (14) is formed at a portion of a cavity (15) corresponding to an outer peripheral edge portion of a lower end surface (10c1) of a flange part (10c), and a molten resin (P) is filled into the cavity (15) through the annular gate (14) to form a hub part (10) made of resin. The hub part (10) molded by the injection molding exhibits a radial resin orientation through an entire periphery thereof. Further, an annular gate trace (16) is formed at the outer peripheral edge portion of the lower end surface (10c1) of the flange part (10c) of the hub part (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Ito, Fuyuki Ito
  • Publication number: 20120002323
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inspecting a magnetic recording medium in which the adhesion (transfer) of contaminants or corrosive materials to a magnetic head can be prevented. Specifically disclosed is a method for inspecting a magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate and additionally comprising at least a magnetic layer, a protective layer and a lubricant layer all provided on the non-magnetic substrate. The method is characterized by including exposing the magnetic recording medium to an atmosphere containing a siloxane and determining the resistance of the magnetic recording medium against environmental substances based on the amount of the siloxane attached to the surface of the magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Junya Kato, Yoshihiko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20120002322
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a load beam, a metal plate mounted on the load beam and constituting a gimbal includes a limiter portion, a flexure includes a plurality of conductors formed over the metal plate with an insulating layer therebetween, a slider includes a head and mounted on the gimbal, and a positioning reference mark formed on the limiter portion by parts of the conductors and configured to position the slider. The plurality of conductors includes conductors which conduct to the positioning reference mark through the metal plate and constitute an interleaved structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takafumi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8089721
    Abstract: A hermetic seal is provided for sealing a discrete opening in a disk drive base plate. The hermetic seal comprises a sealing gasket that is disposed between planar facing surfaces of a component inserted through the opening and a recess formed on the interior of the base plate. As the gasket is compressed, a deformable plating applied to the gasket deforms and flows to fill microscopic voids that may be found in the abutting planar surfaces. Required access to the disk drive through the opening may be made in a rework process without destroying the seal. To seal the opening of the drive again, the sealing gasket is simply recompressed between the planar abutting surfaces. The invention also comprises a method by which to seal the castings of the disk drive housing, to include the base plate and top cover the disk drive. The method generally includes a two-time resin impregnation process to fill exposed pores on the surface of the castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Andrikowich, Michael C. Strzepa, Bruce Gifford
  • Publication number: 20110317310
    Abstract: There are provided a base structure for a device such as a hard disk drive and a hard disk drive having the same. The base structure includes: a base body including components mounted thereon and made of a non-aluminum material; and a base reinforcing part attached to the base body as an additional piece. More specifically, the base body is provided by press-molding a steel sheet and the base reinforcing part is provided by press-molding a steel sheet or is provided as a reinforcing plate separately attached to an outer surface of the base body, and the base structure further includes a reinforcing part processing member additionally provided in the reinforcing plate. The base structure for a device such as a hard disk drive and the like, in which the rigidity thereof is secured or the weight thereof is reduced by using various base reinforcing parts and reinforcing part processing members while the manufacturing costs of the base structure are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ju Ho Kim, Won Young Choi, Tae Young Choi
  • Publication number: 20110317309
    Abstract: Disclosed is a suspension assembly for a disk drive that includes: a mounting plate having a top-side and a bottom-side; a microactuator mounting structure formed in the mounting plate; a microactuator mounted in the microactuator mounting structure in which the microactuator has a top-side and a bottom-side; and a flexure attached to the bottom-side of the of mounting plate and the microactuator. The flexure includes a pad layer and a through-hole, in which the through-hole extends through the pad layer. An epoxy on the pad layer bonds widely to the microactuator and extends through the through-hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wing C. Shum, Yanning Liu, John E. Scura
  • Patent number: 8085495
    Abstract: A spindle motor can suppress the generation of noise during swinging and the extend service life, and also suppress the increase in current consumption. The outside diameter of a thrust hydrodynamic groove is at least 10% of the outside diameter of a disk-shaped medium, and the depth of the radial hydrodynamic groove is greater than the depth of the thrust hydrodynamic groove. By adjusting to specific numbers, the angular stiffness in the thrust bearing is raised, and even if a disturbance torque should be applied, wear or noise caused by metal contact inside the bearing can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Kumoi, Yukinori Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20110304938
    Abstract: A rolling bearing provided with a shield plate which hardly induces the irregular deformation of an outer ring without increasing a cost is provided. A rolling bearing includes an inner ring and an outer ring; a plurality of rolling bodies which are held between the inner ring and the outer ring in a rotatable manner; and an annular shield plate which is engageable with an engaging groove portion which is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring along the circumferential direction and opens toward an inner peripheral surface side and an open end side. The shield plate includes: an annular shield body; and a plurality of engaging projections which are arranged along the outer peripheral portion of the shield body, project outwardly in the radial direction from the outer peripheral portion in an inclined state, and are engageable with the engaging groove portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Haruhiko Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20110304937
    Abstract: Disclosed are a motor and a recording disc drive apparatus that can prevent a fluid in a fluid dynamic bearing from being discharged to the outside. A motor according to an aspect of the invention may include: a shaft; a sleeve having a cylindrical shape and supporting the shaft such that the shaft is rotatable therein; a rotor case engaged with an upper end of the shaft and having a rotor main wall having a cylindrical shape and protruding from one surface thereof in order to receive part of the sleeve; and a cover engaged with an end portion of the rotor main wall and extending the rotor main wall, wherein at least two sealing portions preventing leaks of a fluid used to lubricate the sleeve are formed between an internal circumferential surface, defined by the rotor main wall and the cover, and an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Sun Kang
  • Patent number: 8077432
    Abstract: An improved disk stack assembly for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a generally cylindrical hub with flange having a downward sloping conical flange surface. The conical flange surface is defined between a radially inner circular ridge and a radially outer circular edge. The bottom disk in the stack is in contact with the flange inner circular ridge. The disk stack assembly also includes a disk clamp with a contact surface having a contact rim that is in contact with either the radially inner portion of the top disk in the stack or a spacer ring. The clamp contact rim is located at approximately the same radial distance from the hub's central cylindrical axis as the flange circular ridge so that the clamping force is applied to the disks close to the area where the disk stack is supported on the conical flange surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Andrew Hanlon, Fu-Ying Huang, Lidu Huang, Antony Nguyen, Hamid Salehizadeh
  • Patent number: 8077426
    Abstract: A system and method are described for aligning a data axis of one or more circular data-bearing tracks on an annular surface region of a magnetic media-bearing disk, with a spin axis of a spindle of a spinstand or a disk drive. The data axis is perpendicular to the surface region of the disk and the data tracks are concentric with respect to a data axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Guzik Technical Enterprises
    Inventors: Nahum Guzik, Sergey Korepanov, Alexander Varlakhanov
  • Publication number: 20110299193
    Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism includes a stationary shaft, a sleeve portion arranged to rotate with respect to the shaft, and a thrust portion including an upper end surface arranged oppose to a lower end surface of the sleeve portion. An inside surface of the thrust portion includes an inside surface contact portion arranged in contact with an outside surface of the shaft, and an inside surface lower non-contact portion spaced away from the outside surface of the shaft, and arranged to extend downward from a lower end of the inside surface contact portion. An outside surface of the thrust portion includes an outside surface inclined portion arranged in contact with an interface of a lubricating oil. The lower end of the inside surface contact portion is arranged at a level axially higher than that of a lower end of the outside surface inclined portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi SEKII, Hironao SASAKI, Takuro IGUCHI, Hironori ANDO, Toshihiro AKIYAMA, Takunori SHINAO, Yuichi SHIGEMATSU, Yasutaka INO, Tatsuyoshi NAKATANI
  • Publication number: 20110292543
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension includes a load beam and a gimbal, a slider includes a head and mounted on the gimbal, a gap portion defined between the gimbal and the slider, in an area where the gimbal and an air inflow end of the slider overlap each other, and configured to accommodate contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Koji Miyake
  • Publication number: 20110279925
    Abstract: In a disk drive device, a magnetic recording disk is mounted on a hub. A base rotatably supports the hub via a bearing unit. The base has a ring-shaped wall that surrounds the bearing unit and that protrudes towards the hub. A laminated core is fixed to the base. The laminated core has a ring portion and twelve teeth that radially outwardly extend from the ring portion. Coils are wound around the twelve teeth. The base includes an increasing-thickness portion formed so that the less the distance between a part of the increasing-thickness portion and the ring-shaped wall is, the thicker the part of the increasing-thickness portion becomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: ALPHANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori WATANABE, Takuji YAMADA, Susumu ANDO, Hiroshi IWAI
  • Publication number: 20110255191
    Abstract: A disk drive device includes a base member; a hub on which a recording disk is placed; a bearing unit arranged on the base member for rotatably supporting the hub; and a spindle drive unit for rotationally driving the hub, wherein the spindle drive unit includes a stator core having salient poles, a coil wound around each of the salient poles, and a magnet having a plurality of magnetic poles arranged in a circumferential direction opposed to the salient poles, the hub includes an outer cylindrical portion formed of a magnetic material and engaged with an inner periphery of the recording disk, and an inner cylindrical portion fixing an outer periphery of the magnet, the number of magnetic poles is an even number in a range of 10 to 16, and the number of salient poles is a multiple of 3 in a range of 12 to 24.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: ALPHANA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori WATANABE, Mitsuo KODAMA, Hiroshi IWAI, Akira NISHIO
  • Publication number: 20110249362
    Abstract: A spindle motor includes a base portion, a rotor hub, a stator, and a circuit board. The base portion preferably includes a through hole and is arranged to spread out radially around a central axis. The rotor hub is arranged above the base portion to rotate about the central axis. The stator is arranged above the base portion, and includes coils each including at least one lead wire. The circuit board is arranged radially outward of the through hole, and arranged on a lower surface of the base portion. The base portion includes a communicating groove arranged to join the through hole and the circuit board to each other. The at least one lead wire of the coils is arranged to pass inside the through hole and the communicating groove to be electrically connected to the circuit board. The through hole is sealed with a sealant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi SAICHI, Kazuhiko FUKUSHIMA, Hironori ANDO, Kazushi MIURA, Katsuya TAKAHASHI, Takehito TAMAOKA
  • Publication number: 20110242701
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole configured to apply a perpendicular recording magnetic field to a recording layer of a recording medium, a return pole opposed to the trailing side of the main pole with a write gap therebetween and configured to reflux magnetic flux from the main pole to form a magnetic circuit in conjunction with the main pole, a coil configured to excite magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit includes the main pole and the return pole, a plurality of high-frequency oscillatory elements individually interposed between the main pole and the return pole, includes a plurality of magnetic films different in magnetic resonance frequency, and configured to individually apply high-frequency magnetic fields to the recording medium, and an electrical circuit configured to energize the high-frequency oscillatory elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masaya Ohtake, Tomoko Taguchi, Masayuki Takagishi, Kenichiro Yamada, Katsuhiko Koui